GIFFENMAN

Synopsis :  How I got fooled Lyrics: मत हँसना मुझ पर यारो, मेरी भी एक भूल थी। मेरी भी सुन लो यारो, मैं भी मान गया था। मैं भी मान गया था, दिल से मान गया था। अच्छे दिन की राहों पर, हँसकर चल पड़ा था। पंद्रह लाख के सपनों ने, आँखों में घर कर लिया। मैंने भी ताली बजाई थी, मुझको भी विश्वास था। मैं भी मान गया था, हर वादा मान गया था। ताली ही बजाता रहा, मेरा सपना ले गया कौन? फिर इक सुबह कुछ ऐसा बदला, जेब में बस काग़ज़ थे। कतारों में खड़े हुए हम, चेहरे सब बेआवाज़ थे। जुमला था, समझ न पाया, शोर बहुत था चारों ओर। सच की जो आवाज़ उठी तो, तालियों में खो गई। मैं भी मान गया था, हर वादा मान गया था। ताली ही बजाता रहा, मेरा सपना ले गया कौन? जब अंपायर ही साथ खड़ा हो, खेल भला फिर कैसा हो? सीटी भी जब हुक्म बजाए, जीत का मतलब कैसा हो? खुली वफ़ादारी चलती थी, शर्म कहीं खोती गई। कैमरों के आगे इक सलामी, पूरी तस्वीर कहती गई। मैं भी मान गया था, हर वादा मान गया था। ताली ही बजाता रहा, मेरा सपना ले गया कौन? जुमला था, समझ न पाया। फिर कुछ लोग उठ खड़े हुए, डर से आँख मिलाने लगे। ...

Synopsis:  The Blindness Clause is a darkly witty folk-rock protest song about the price of looking the other way. Inspired by Upton Sinclair's famous observation that people struggle to understand truths that threaten their livelihood. Lyrics: Verse 1 Sinclair said it, plain and clear... "Can't make a man see what he's paid... not to hear" Joanna's man took the tobacco gig... She packed her bags... (ah-ah) She wouldn't dig Pre-Chorus But Jon stays on, Jon knows it's bad... Cashes the check... that makes him sad Chorus I can't see it, won't believe it... My rent depends on not perceiving it... Look away and cash the check... Sinclair's laughing... Sinclair's laughing at my neck Verse 2 The soldier, cop, the lobbyist too... The politician sellin' you the view... They all know the game, they know it's rigged... They clock in anyway... and dig Pre-Chorus Chorus Bridge (spoken word / near silence) Eigh...

  Synopsis:  A thoughtful folk ballad in Hindi about the uncomfortable space between the people we aspire to be and the people we really are. Lyrics हर चौखट पर... शीश झुका दूँ। चाहूँ तो... एक और देव बना लूँ। फिर भी मन... क्यों चुप न बैठे, जब कोई कहे... "बस एक... मैं ही सही हूँ..." [Chorus – slightly more melodic, soft harmony] मन की गाँठें... मन की गाँठें... कौन खोले? एक साथ... एक साथ... सब क्यों मैं चाहूँ? [Verse 2] चाहूँ... कोई भूखा न सोए। हर आँगन में... चूल्हा जले। फिर भी... दिल के किसी कोने में, मेरा सिक्का... ही चले। चाहूँ... सब जी-जान से खेलें। कोई भी... आधा मन न दे। फिर भी... जीत का आख़िरी सेहरा, आकर... मेरे सिर ही बँधे। [Chorus] मन की गाँठें... मन की गाँठें... कौन खोले? एक साथ... एक साथ... सब क्यों मैं चाहूँ? [Verse 3 – quieter] जानूँ जिसने... जन्म लिया है, उसको... एक दिन जाना है। फिर... भी मन ये सपना देखे, वक़्त... मुझे न छू पाए। बच्चों से कहता हूँ... "डरना मत..." ख़ुद... सारी रात जागता हूँ। माफ़ी की बातें... करता हूँ, पुरान...

  Synopsis:  A thoughtful folk ballad about the uncomfortable space between the people we aspire to be and the people we really are. Lyrics:   I can worship gods by the thousand, Or invent another tomorrow. Yet I still resent the preacher Who says there's only one road to follow. [Chorus – soft harmony joins on the second line] So, how do I reconcile my contradictions? Why do I want both worlds at once? [Verse 2 – bass and brushes enter] I want every human and animal To have enough to live. Yet I still want to be top dog, The one who always wins. I want everyone to play their best, To bring their finest game. Yet somewhere deep inside myself, I still want all the fame. [Chorus – fuller harmony] So, how do I reconcile my contradictions? Why do I want both worlds at once? [Verse 3 – cello and bansuri enter] I know that every child that's born Will one day grow old and die. Yet somewhere deep inside my heart, I dream I'll never say goodbye. I tell my children not t...

GIFFENMAN Origin of the ideas Every song begins with an idea rather than a melody. Those ideas emerge from a lifetime of lived experience, wide-ranging academic study, observation and critical reflection on the world around me. I am naturally drawn to questions that are neglected, misunderstood or capable of being viewed from an unexpected perspective. Many of these ideas remain with me for months, and sometimes years, gradually developing before they are ready to become songs. The writing process therefore begins long before the first lyric is written. It begins with sustained thought, curiosity and reflection. Writing and revising the lyrics When an idea has matured sufficiently, I record it in its simplest form. At this stage it may consist of little more than a question, an image, an observation or a loosely connected set of thoughts. The challenge then is to discover the story that best communicates the idea. Through repeated drafting and revision, I shape the material into...

  Song Title Category Theme 1 Rules Based Order Deception, Economics, Power Is the world being run on rules? 2 You’re on the List Economics, Humanity, Knowledge, Power, Technology Surveillance by technology 3 The Enigma Code Language Understanding what the English mean 4 We A’int Skint Deception, Economics, Humanity Modern Monetary Theory 5 The Perfect Crime Economics, Humanity, Power, Technology The decisions of doctors and algorithms 6 Rain don’t care what the forecast says Economics, Knowledge, Power Natural events unlike economic events are not influenced by human prediction 7 GDP - The Magic Metric Deception, Economics The weakness of worshipping GDP 8 Bhramanappana Deception, Humanity, Knowledge Brownian movement of life 9 The Devil is the Definition Deception, Economics, Power The weakness of definitions 10 Behata Jaaye Deception, Humanity, Knowledge The Brownian motion of life in Hinglish 11 Tax the Rich Economics, Power Tax wealth not income 12 The Invisible Lie Deception,...

Synopsis:  Only Human is a reflective folk ballad that explores the contradictions at the heart of human nature. The narrator wrestles with opposing desires: wanting equality while craving success, accepting mortality while longing for immortality, preaching calm while living with anxiety, and advocating forgiveness while struggling to let go of old grievances. Rather than condemning these inconsistencies, the song asks whether they are signs of hypocrisy or simply part of what it means to be human. Blending philosophical reflection with deeply personal confession, Only Human invites listeners to recognise themselves in its questions rather than judge themselves by its answers. Lyrics Verse 1 I can worship gods by the thousand, Or invent another tomorrow. Yet I still resent the preacher Who says there's only one road to follow. Chorus So, how do I reconcile my contradictions? Why do I want both worlds at once? Verse 2 I want every human and animal To have enough to live. Yet I st...

  Synopsis: This song is a contemporary folk song about the power of predictions to shape reality. Contrasting hurricanes that ignore human opinion with financial markets that react to every rumour, the song explores how forecasts, headlines and public narratives can become self-fulfilling prophecies. Blending economics, psychology and social commentary, it asks whether we create the futures we claim merely to predict. Lyrics Rain don't care what the forecast say Rain don't care what the forecast say Storms don't bend to the words we choose It falls the same on any odd day But markets move when we spread the news A hurricane don't read the news at night It comes regardless of our alarm But tell folks the bank's about to lose the fight And the fear they spread becomes the storm Nature keeps to its own design No rumor changes a storm's command But a whisper 'bout a market's decline Builds the very crash with its own hand They paint the picture, pull the st...